Commander EU Naval Force - Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant

The Operation Commander commands the operation from the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) at Northwood, United Kingdom. There he plans and conducts the operation in conjunction with the political and military authorities of the European Union.

Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant was born in 1961 and joined the Royal Navy in 1979.  During his service at sea he has had naval appointments in both submarines and surface ships and commanded the nuclear powered submarine HMS TALENT from 1997-99 and the Ice Patrol Ship HMS ENDURANCE 2007-08.  He has a variety of operational experience from the Falklands Conflict in 1982 on board the destroyer HMS ANTRIM, numerous submarine patrols, two seasons in the Antarctic and periods of defence diplomacy off West Africa.

Ashore he has trained Junior Officers and been on the staff of Commander Submarine Force US Atlantic Fleet.  More recently he has focused on the higher management of Defence developing Security Policy and Strategy and creating effective International and Political relationships.  After a tour as the Commodore Naval Staff, supporting the First Sea Lord in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which involved developing the strategy for the future of the Royal Navy, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

For the latter half of 2012 he was Commander of Combined Task Force 150, responsible for a multi-national maritime security operation extending from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman.

On promotion to Rear Admiral in January 2013 he assumed the role of Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia and Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.

Bob is married to Tracy and they have two children.  Beyond professional duties, he focuses on his family.